Contact the SMART Learning Commons desk staff at Walter or Wilson Libraries for general information or help with all of academic support services provided at the SMART Learning Commons.  

SMART Learning Commons Staff

Charlie Heinz
Site Manager - SMART Learning Commons
Supervisor - Library Media Service Staff

Questions about Media Services, audiovisual equipment, and media production software

Our staff of students supports media literacy by teaching media pre and post production principles. We circulate audiovisual equipment, troubleshoot media technology questions, and assist with access to the media collection.

Brett Gray

Supervisor - Peer Tutoring

Questions about Peer Tutors and standardized test preparation resources

Brett supervises the Peer Tutor program, which offers peer-to-peer tutoring in a wide range of subjects including math, science, writing, and more. Brett also oversees the Test Preparation Resource Collection, which provide resources for students preparing for some on-campus course-based exams and nationally normed high-stakes exams, respectively. Brett completed a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and worked in university housing and academic advising before joining the University of Minnesota. Brett and the Peer Tutors are committed to helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and advance their learning.

Andrew Palahniuk
Peer Resarch Consultant Lead and Instructional Technologist
Supervisor - Library Peer Research Consulting

Questions about Peer Research Consultants

Andrew Palahniuk assists the Information Literacy programs at the University Libraries. He coordinates the Peer Research Consultants program with Kate Peterson, teaches and manages the Intro to Library Research workshops, manages the Libraries' Orientation programs, and is on the Libraries' Instructional Design team.

Mary Lilly
Peer Assisted Learning Program Director
Supervisor - Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) employees

Questions about PAL program

Mary Lilly directs the PAL program. Previously she taught in K-12 schools and had a career in insurance. Mary is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A. English) and holds a master degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (MPA). She is passionate about PAL and a huge advocate of its methods and proven benefits. "PAL is for students who want to do the best they can in their courses. Our undergraduate facilitators are smart, well-trained, and deeply committed to helping their peers be successful in challenging courses." Faculty and students can contact Mary to request a PAL session for their course.

Scott Spicer 
Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian

Questions from instructors, instructional designers, and staff about Library Media Services including support for course-integrated media resources, student-produced media assignments, media use in research and scholarship

Scott serves as Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian for the University Libraries. In this role, he functions as head of Library Media Services, providing vision and administrative leadership for the development of library-based media services to meet campus needs, depth of expertise in a range of media issues, as well as guidance to the SMART Learning Commons library spaces (emphasis media). Scott holds a Masters of Library Information Systems (MLIS) from Dominican University, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction-Learning Technologies from the U. Scott's work, educational, and scholarship background is in the areas of learning technology, course integrated student-produced media, media resources, media librarianship, digital humanities/multimodal scholarship, learning spaces, and curriculum and instruction.

Jacqueline Olsson

Director, SMART Learning Commons and Learning Support Network

Questions about the role of Office of Undergraduate Education in SMART Learning Commons and partnerships between SMART and other campus entities, as well as the place of SMART in the national learning assistance field.

The director oversees the work, vision, and mission of the SMART Learning Commons, together with its partnerships with other campus units. 

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